AP2SI West Java Press Conference<\/b><\/p>\n
Good afternoon.<\/p>\n
Greetings of sustainability.<\/p>\n
Bandung, May 22, 2026. The West Java Indonesian Social Forestry Management Association is here<\/p>\n
such a serious concern<\/b> to direction and quality of implementation<\/b><\/p>\n
Special Management Forest Area (KHDPK) policy, especially for<\/p>\n
social forestry on the island of Java, which is currently tend <\/b>getting further away from<\/p>\n
The initial spirit of the goal was to reform forestry governance on the island of Java.<\/p>\n
which supports the community and is expected to be a way to expand<\/p>\n
community rights to forest areas, accelerating Social Forestry<\/p>\n
as a management instrument for social, economic, and ecological, resolving conflicts<\/p>\n
tenure, and maintaining the social and ecological sustainability of forests on the island of Java.<\/p>\n
The initial determination of the KHPDK, through the issuance of the Decree of the Minister of Environment and Forestry<\/p>\n
Forestry Decree Number SK.287 of 2022 concerning Determination of Forest Areas with Management<\/p>\n
Specifically for some state forests located in production forest areas and<\/p>\n
Protected Forests in Central Java Province, East Java Province, West Java Province, and<\/p>\n
Banten Province, which has designated KHDPK covering 1,103,941 hectares as a hope and<\/p>\n
important position because before this policy, the production and protected forest areas<\/p>\n
an area of 2.5 million hectares or 76 % previously under the management of the public housing complex<\/p>\n
forestry.<\/p>\n
In the initial phase of the policy, the public understood that the majority in the KHDPK were for<\/p>\n
Social Forestry. Even the policy narrative at the time mentioned a figure of 922,769 hectares.<\/p>\n
for community access through Social Forestry. Community expectations are growing,<\/p>\n
Forest farmer groups have begun to apply for legality and management rights in the area.<\/p>\n
KHDPK.But the situation changed.<\/b><\/p>\n
On April 8, 2025, the government issued Decree of the Minister of Forestry Number<\/p>\n
149 of 2025 which revokes the previous ministerial decree. There is a contradiction in<\/p>\n
the new decision, the government also did not explain openly how large the area is<\/p>\n
KHDPK prioritized for Social Forestry. This condition gives rise to<\/p>\n
unclear direction and implementation of policies and loss of certainty of access<\/p>\n
community towards forest areas.<\/p>\n
However, subsequently, through the issuance of the Minister of Forestry Regulation Number 8 of 2026<\/p>\n
regarding the National Forestry Plan or RKTN 2011\u20132030, the government<\/p>\n
set the KHDPK directive for Social Forestry to only 583,629 hectares. This means that, when compared with the initial projection of 922,769 hectares, there is a fact that<\/p>\n
reduction in the allocation area for Social Forestry by 339,140 hectares (36.8%). so that,<\/p>\n
This again narrows the space for community rights to manage forest areas and<\/p>\n
Until today, there has been no explanation from the government regarding these existing facts.<\/p>\n
open to the public regarding the reasons for the reduction and there was no public consultation<\/p>\n
adequate. Forest farmer groups and Social Forestry organizations also do not<\/p>\n
meaningfully involved in this process.<\/p>\n
In the field, the problems are becoming more apparent.<\/b><\/p>\n
The process of facilitation, verification, validation, and transformation of Social Forestry in the region<\/p>\n
The KHDPK has stagnated. The government always argues that this is due to the document.<\/p>\n
is in process, the KHDPK Management Plan has not been determined and ratified by<\/p>\n
minister as stated in Article 475 of the Minister of Environment and Forestry Regulation No. 7 of 2021.<\/p>\n
Apart from that, on the other hand, in the process of preparing and discussing the Regional Development Plan<\/p>\n
The management of the KHDPK is closed and non-transparent. Supporting organizations<\/p>\n
Social Forestry and forest farmer groups are not involved and do not receive adequate access to information, even though this policy directly concerns community rights.,<\/p>\n
socio-ecological sustainability, and the future of forest governance on Java Island. As a result,<\/p>\n
Social Forestry implementation technical services are not running optimally and there are<\/p>\n
contradictory regarding the implementation of Presidential Regulation Number 28 of 2023 concerning<\/p>\n
Integrated Planning for Accelerated Social Forestry Management Implemented in 2019<\/p>\n
2023 \u2013 2030 regarding the acceleration of the distribution of legal access.<\/p>\n
So AP2SI West Java assesses that from all the existing conditions, this will<\/p>\n
increasing tenure uncertainty, weakening the position of the community in<\/p>\n
management of forest areas, and has the potential to give rise to social and political conflicts<\/p>\n
field management<\/p>\n
Therefore, through this press conference, AP2SI conveyed several attitudes and<\/p>\n
demands:<\/p>\n
First<\/b>, KHDPK must remain a priority to improve dignity, honor, and<\/p>\n
the welfare of society as per the initial spirit of its objectives.<\/p>\n
Second<\/b>, The government must transparently open the Management Plan document<\/p>\n
KHDPK to the public.<\/p>\n
Third<\/b>, Forest farmer groups and Social Forestry organizations must be involved in<\/p>\n
the policy formulation process, concretely accommodating the requests of subjects and<\/p>\n
objects that have been submitted to the Ministry of Forestry.<\/p>\n
Fourth<\/b>, Technical services for facilitation, verification and validation of applications<\/p>\n
Social Forestry must be implemented immediately without delay.<\/p>\n
Fifth<\/b>, The government must explain openly the basis for the changes and<\/p>\n
reduction in Social Forestry allocations in KHDPK areas.<\/p>\n
Sixth<\/b>, KHDPK management must guarantee the social-ecological protection of the community<\/p>\n
while maintaining the sustainability of forest functions on the island of Java, and<\/p>\n
Seventh<\/b>,The state must start changing the paradigm of Social Forestry from merely<\/p>\n
granting access to a system of recognition, protection and management of areas<\/p>\n
community rights-based forests.<\/p>\n
We believe that the forests on Java Island cannot be saved by just<\/p>\n
administrative and bureaucratic approaches. Forests will be sustainable if the community<\/p>\n
surrounding areas receive recognition, protection, certainty of rights, and management space.<\/p>\n
fair. Thank you.<\/p>\n
Greetings of sustainability.<\/p>\n
Long live the people!<\/p>\n